The Threshold of Humanity

The tall, intimidating skyscrapers of the distant city known as the Threshold, stood among the world as a powerful capital with strong connections. Xandra Lucina sat on the corporate throne as one of the influential leaders of what the citizens referred to as the Twilight Core; known as bureaucratic and corporate meddlers who ambition greater than the rest. On top of the core sat the Grand Moderator a mysterious human who is said to have control over them and the actions of the Twilight Core. Despite this subtle manipulation of the core, Xandra could see through the agendas, and worries that their plans could ruin the Threshold's future and its inhabitants. As a solution, she and her company, secretly created the Dominants, who were human volunteers, integrated with advance technology in order to keep the peace by making sure the inhabitants of the city are safe. They blended in with the humans and frequently reported to Xandra about the movements of the Twilight Core. However, a member of the Twilight Core eventually found out about the Dominants, and attempted to destroy their purpose and corrupt the technology to interrupt the human emotions of humans, then transforming them into mindless beings with killer instinct. Xandra's company tried to fight back by reverting the Dominants to their original purpose but it was far too late.

As the Dominants infiltrated the tower of Lucina Techs, blood was violently being spilled onto the sleek metal tables of the office. Gun fires could be heard from a mile away from Xandra's office, and the guards armed with their ancient but functioning pistols, fired back at the intimidating presence of the Dominants, but their bullets could barely penetrate the enhanced skin.

"There's too many of them." One of the guards said.

"Our bullets can barely pierce their skin, ma'am."

"If we can't beat them, then we need to get out of this tower." Xandra replied.

The Dominants gun down the workers as Xandra and the guards escape through the other exit from her office. The exit has been rarely used ever since her father was leader, yet even after not being used by a decade, it once more served its purpose. As they quickly raced down the stairs, Xandra stopped and type in numbers on her wrist, revealing the door inside the walls. As she and the guards enter the room, there was a tank of blue liquid with a girl inside. The girl seemed to be in lab uniform and has been in that state for a long time. Xandra saw the tank, activated it through her wrist and the blue liquid was siphoned by the girl. After the liquid was gone, the tank opened and the girl fell on the floor. Xandra picks her up while the guards try to listen for the Dominants' metal footsteps. When the coast was clear, one of the guards questioned her.

"Ma'am, why create her?"

"Because she is the Threshold's future." Xandra replied.

The guard upon hearing her reply was confused yet began to understand what it meant. Ever since the past, the Threshold serves as the last frontier of humanity and technology. It was established by corporate visionaries who wish to share their technologies to the world. They were opportunistic but their hearts were generous. Overtime the Threshold became the crux of technological marvel and many people came to live here and raised families. However the vision fell apart when new companies started to rise and attempted to exploit the technologies to their own gain. The Formers, who were part of these corporate visionaries tried to grasp control of these new companies known to the inhabitants as Risers, but they were eventually snuffed out and became bankrupted. The visionaries were forced to leave and established small farms just to survive. But among the Risers, were the Lucina family who were both expose to exploitation and vision. Their company, were the only ones who kept the Formers' philosophy and integrated it on their own. Eventually the Lucina rose to power and earned a throne next among the members of the Twilight Core. But now that the Lucina are at a stalemate with the Grand Moderator and his corporate puppets, their only hope were to escape and hide.

As few minutes has passed Xandra and the guards, left the room with the tank and went down the stairs all the way to the basement where they rode a vehicle all the way to the border of the Threshold and the Farms, where the formers and some inhabitants reside. Away from the threat, Xandra resided in a Former town while the two guards, return to the Threshold, disguised as Dominants. Now in peace Lucina raised the child in the town while working as a Resourcer in a convenience store.

5 years after the fall of Lucina Techs, She remains in peace living with the child who has just reach her teens of whom she named Domina, after the Dominants. Life at the town was unchanging, boring or at times lacking yet the peace was always there keeping the inhabitants alive and safe from harm. Many of the inhabitants knew of Xandra because of her father's frequent visits to the town when she was still a child. They all offered to give her things but she refuses all of it except the house in order to keep Domina safe. As time passes so does the state of the world and every time she watches the reports in different parts of the world, it seems almost that everything is falling apart. What's worse is when the two guards came back, they brought much dreadful news. With the Twilight Core's discovery of Xandra's creations, the Dominants, the Grand Moderator, saw its opportunity and has opted for a construction of a million more.

"It seems that they are preparing for war, ma'am."

"And if they are, then the town isn't safe anymore." They said.

She was worried that if the Dominants attack the town, then they would have no choice but to escape. Domina had already experience a better life in the town and she did not want to take it away from her. So she decided to leave the town along with the guards to the Threshold and left Domina under the care of the Resurthor, Nero. Nero was caring and assisted Xandra during their arrival to the town. He was the one who provided them with the house to stay. While Xandra stayed with Nero, he develops an infatuation with her but she was already married before and wishes to remain a widow for the rest of her life. In a way, when Xandra left the teenager under his care, he felt a greater ounce of responsibility like a father was to a daughter. After Xandra left for the Threshold, the teenager understood what it meant. She was never coming back.